??? ??＊ｔ！

Hello, fellow tech enthusiasts, open-source aficionados, and lovers of the letter Z! Welcome to my blog series, “? ??＊ｔ！”. Now, you might be wondering, “Why the peculiar title?” Well, it’s a reflection of my love for technology, Free/Libre Open Source Software (FLOSS), cybersecurity, free culture, and of course, the letter Z. And let’s be honest, who doesn’t love a little mystery?

This blog will be updated as infrequently as possible, sporadic at best. Why, you ask? Because consistency is too mainstream, and we’re all about being different here! Plus, it adds an element of surprise. You’ll never know when the next post will pop up, kind of like a jack-in-the-box, but less terrifying and more informative.

Each post in this series will focus on an individual piece of software that is open source and starts with the letter Z. Yes, you read that right. The letter Z. Why Z? Well, why not? It’s the last letter of the alphabet, often overlooked, but not by me! I’m giving Z the spotlight it deserves!

Now, I know what you’re thinking. “Will there be a strict schedule? A rigid structure?” To that, I say, “That ain’t me, babe!” This blog is as fluid as a river and as flexible as a gymnast. This isn’t about being rigid; it’s about going with the flow and seeing where the current takes us!

Z, or what the rest of the world pronounces as “zed”, is the ultimate end of the alphabet, the caboose of the ABC train. It’s the letter that’s always picked last in the alphabet sports team. But don’t be fooled Dear Reader, Z has a history as zigzagged as its shape. It started its journey in the ancient Semitic languages, where it was represented as a symbol that looked like a sideways ‘I’. Imagine the confusion when people were asked to draw a straight line and they ended up with a Z!

In Ancient Greece, Z was a rebel. It was banished from the alphabet by the ruling class, only to sneak back in hundreds of years later. It’s like the prodigal son of the alphabet, always causing a stir. When it finally made its way back, it was put at the end of the line, probably as a form of punishment. But Z didn’t mind, it enjoyed the view from the back.

In the English language, Z is often overlooked. It’s the least used letter, making up a mere 0.07% of written English. But when it does make an appearance, it’s usually to add a little pizzazz. Words like “buzz”, “jazz”, and “pizzazz” wouldn’t be the same without Z. So, while Z may be at the end of the alphabet, it’s certainly not the least important. It’s the underdog, the dark horse, the letter that always keeps you guessing.

So, buckle up, and get ready for a wild ride through the world of Z-starting open-source software. It’s going to be a journey filled with laughter, learning, and a whole lot of love for technology. Stay tuned, and remember, in the world of “? ??＊ｔ！”, expect the unexpected!